Mazda Reportedly Puts Its New EV On The Backburner To Focus On Hybrids

• Mazda has reportedly delayed the launch of its first dedicated electric car once again.
• The model, based on a bespoke platform, was set to debut next year.
• Instead, Mazda will focus on hybrids as a way to survive the market uncertainty, Japanese media reported.

Mazda’s electric car portfolio has never been something to write home about, and that’s not about to change anytime soon. After the slow-selling MX-30, Mazda went knee-deep in developing an all-new EV based on a dedicated electric platform, which was supposed to go into production next year.

That plan, however, has been scrapped. The upcoming EV, which is expected to be a mid-size crossover, has now been delayed by at least two years, with production slated to start in 2029 at the earliest, according to Japanese newspapers Nikkei and Nikkan Jidosha, quoted by Automotive News.

Blame tariffs, changing emissions regulations and the cancellation of the $7,500 federal tax credit, which have taken a huge toll on big players in the industry, let alone a small, independent company like Mazda.

In a statement sent to Automotive News, a Mazda spokesperson said that the company is still assessing the timeline of its EV rollout. “This information has not been released by our company,” the spokesperson said. “We continue to advance the technological development of our proprietary BEVs based on our multisolution strategy and will determine the timing of their introduction while carefully assessing regulatory trends in each country and changes in customer needs.”

Mazda’s Hofu assembly plant in western Japan is said to be responsible for the production of the new EV, but import tariffs implemented last year made the business proposition harder to digest.

The Japanese automaker hasn’t completely given up on EVs, though. It recently unveiled two brand-new models, the 6e sedan and CX-6e crossover, which are made in collaboration with China’s Changan and sold in Europe, Australia and other parts of the world. However, because they’re made in China, they would be subjected to a 100% import tariff in the U.S., making them basically unsellable here.

Mazda’s move echoes moves from other players in the industry, including big names like Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. Ford recently discontinued the F-150 Lightning, which has been America’s best-selling electric pickup for most of its history. Meanwhile, Stellantis pulled the plug on the all-electric Ram 1500 even before a single unit rolled off the assembly line, and GM canceled the BrightDrop electric van.

That said, electrification is still here to stay, with multiple affordable options in the works. Ford’s $30,000 mid-size pickup is scheduled to debut next year, while the new Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf are already heading to dealerships across the country.